Skateboard injury tags teen with assault charge

Beth Rankin

Published
12:00 am CST, Friday, February 19, 2010

A 59-year-old Sabine County man is recovering in the hospital after police say a 17-year-old hit him with a skateboard.
Just before 10 p.m. Tuesday, first responders found Johnny Joe Odell unconscious in the street in the Holly Bay subdivision in the eastern part of Sabine County, according to Sabine County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Tony Miller.
Odell was flown to Louisiana State University Hospital in Shreveport where he was on a respirator until Thursday. Police have yet to interview the man but are told he has no memory of what happened Tuesday night, Miller said.
What police do know is that Odell had some type of altercation with three boys — aged 15, 16 and 17 — but it is unclear if the boys were acting in self-defense.
According to Miller, the young men, who live in the subdivision, were walking to a girl’s house when Odell, who lived nearby, began following them. One of the boys knew Odell because he had done some work for him in the past, Miller said.
When the boys reached their friend’s home, her father sent them away, telling them it was too late for a visit.
According to the boys, Odell was still standing in the street and began following them again. The boys claim that when one of them turned to ask why, Odell grabbed one of them.
It was then that police say one of the teens hit Odell over the head with a skateboard, after which all three fled.Lucas Cole Mathias, 17, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. After voluntarily appearing at the police station Wednesday, he posted a $10,000 bond and was released.
The investigation is continuing, Miller said, and police expect to speak to Odell in the next couple of days.